
The Proper Role of Government
In accordance with its understanding of the purpose of human life, the Church teaches that the proper role of government is to provide a legal and economic framework in which the common good can flourish, in order that the people may accomplish their mission: that is, so that the people may use the freedom God has given them to seek the truth and thereby return to Him.
An authentic democracy is not merely the result of a formal observation of a set of rules but is the fruit of a convinced acceptance of the values that inspire democratic procedures: the dignity of every human person, the respect of human rights, commitment to the common good as the purpose and guiding criterion for political life. If there is no general consensus on these values, the deepest meaning of democracy is lost and its stability is compromised.
The Church’s social doctrine sees ethical relativism, which maintains that there are no objective or universal criteria for establishing the foundations of a correct hierarchy of values, as one of the greatest threats to modern-day democracies. – 407, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
Institutions and democracy
The Magisterium recognizes the validity of the principle concerning the division of powers in a State: “it is preferable that each power be balanced by other powers and by other spheres of responsibility which keep it within proper bounds. This is the principle of the ‘rule of law’, in which the law is sovereign, and not the arbitrary will of individuals”. – 408, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
Responsibilities of the State include:
– ensuring that all individuals are enabled to achieve their full potential, by maintaining a framework capable of providing all the material, moral, and spiritual goods necessary for the common good
– harmonizing the different interests of sectors of society with the requirements of justice, including particularly the reconciliation of private ownership of goods with the common good
– ordering society not only in accordance with the desires of the majority, but the effective good of all the members of the community, including minorities
168, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
The Role of the Church
When the Church’s Magisterium intervenes in issues concerning social and political life, it does not fail to observe the requirements of a correctly understood autonomy, for “the Church’s Magisterium does not wish to exercise political power or eliminate the freedom of opinion of Catholics regarding contingent questions. Instead, it intends — as is its proper function — to instruct and illuminate the consciences of the faithful, particularly those involved in political life, so that their actions may always serve the integral promotion of the human person and the common good. The social doctrine of the Church is not an intrusion into the government of individual countries. It is a question of the lay Catholic’s duty to be morally coherent, found within one’s conscience, which is one and indivisible”. 571, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
Taxes & Stewardship of Government
Public administration at any level — national, regional, community — is to be oriented towards the service of citizens, serving as steward of the people’s resources, which it must administer with a view to the common good.
Tax revenues and public spending take on crucial economic importance for every civil and political community. The goal to be sought is public financing that is itself capable of becoming an instrument of development and solidarity. Just, efficient and effective public financing will have very positive effects on the economy, because it will encourage employment growth and sustain business and non-profit activities and help to increase the credibility of the State as the guarantor of systems of social insurance and protection that are designed above all to protect the weakest members of society.
Public spending is directed to the common good when certain fundamental principles are observed: the payment of taxes as part of the duty of solidarity; a reasonable and fair application of taxes; precision and integrity in administering and distributing public resources.
In the redistribution of resources, public spending must observe the principles of solidarity, equality and making use of talents. It must also pay greater attention to families, designating an adequate amount of resources for this purpose. In the democratic system, political authority is accountable to the people. 355, 408, 412, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
Democratic Reform
Representative bodies must be subjected to effective social control. This control can be carried out above all in free elections which allow the selection and change of representatives. The obligation on the part of those elected to give an accounting of their work — which is guaranteed by respecting electoral terms — is a constitutive element of democratic representation.
Among the deformities of the democratic system, political corruption is one of the most serious. If there is no ultimate truth to guide and direct political action, then ideas and convictions can easily be manipulated for reasons of power. A democracy without values easily turns into totalitarianism. – 406-412, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
Cooperation and respect between parties
Political parties have the task of fostering widespread participation and making public responsibilities accessible to all. Political parties are called to interpret the aspirations of civil society, orienting them towards the common good… An authentic democracy is not merely the result of a formal observation of a set of rules but is the fruit of a convinced acceptance of the values that inspire democratic procedures: the dignity of every human person, the respect of human rights, commitment to the common good as the purpose and guiding criterion for political life. If there is no general consensus on these values, the deepest meaning of democracy is lost and its stability is compromised. – 407, 413, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
Subsidiary governments: provinces, municipalities, territories, & Indigenous peoples
The principle of subsidiarity is opposed to various forms of centralization, bureaucratization, and welfare assistance, and to the unjustified and excessive presence of the State in public mechanisms… Just as it is gravely wrong to take from individuals what they can accomplish by their own initiative and industry and give it to the community, so also it is an injustice and at the same time a grave evil and disturbance of right order to assign to a greater and higher association what lesser and subordinate organizations can do. -185, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
Peace & Good Order
Interprovisional and International Trade
The Church has time and again called attention to aberrations in the system of international trade, which often, owing to protectionist policies, discriminates against products coming from poorer countries and hinders the growth of industrial activity in and the transfer of technology to these countries.
The continuing deterioration in terms of the exchange of raw materials and the widening of the gap between rich and poor countries has prompted the Church to point out the importance of ethical criteria that should form the basis of international economic relations: the pursuit of the common good and the universal destination of goods; equity in trade relationships; and attention to the rights and needs of the poor in policies concerning trade and international cooperation.
Economic and social imbalances in the world of work must be addressed by restoring a just hierarchy of values and placing the human dignity of workers before all else. – 370, 321, 364 Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
“Opening up to the world” is an expression that has been co-opted by the economic and financial sector and is now used exclusively of openness to foreign interests or to the freedom of economic powers to invest without obstacles or complications in all countries. Local conflicts and disregard for the common good are exploited by the global economy in order to impose a single cultural model. This culture unifies the world, but divides persons and nations, for “as society becomes ever more globalized, it makes us neighbours, but does not make us brothers”.
We are more alone than ever in an increasingly massified world that promotes individual interests and weakens the communitarian dimension of life. Indeed, there are markets where individuals become mere consumers or bystanders. As a rule, the advance of this kind of globalism strengthens the identity of the more powerful, who can protect themselves, but it tends to diminish the identity of the weaker and poorer regions, making them more vulnerable and dependent. In this way, political life becomes increasingly fragile in the face of transnational economic powers that operate with the principle of “divide and conquer”. Pope Francis, Fratelli tutti, 12
Criminal Justice & Public Safety
In order to protect the common good, the lawful public authority must exercise the right and the duty to inflict punishments according to the seriousness of the crimes committed. The State has the twofold responsibility to discourage behaviour that is harmful to human rights and the fundamental norms of civil life, and to repair, through the penal system, the disorder created by criminal activity…
Punishment does not serve merely the purpose of defending the public order and guaranteeing the safety of persons; it becomes as well an instrument for the correction of the offender. There is a twofold purpose here. On the one hand, encouraging the reinsertion of the condemned person into society; on the other, fostering a justice that reconciles, a justice capable of restoring harmony in social relationships disrupted by the criminal act committed. – 402 Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church

Role & Purpose of Government
The party states, as a matter of principle, that:
– people must be able to participate in the political, economic, and environmental decisions that affect them
The party further states that:
– the primary role of government is to work collaboratively to find the best solutions to the critical issues we are facing
– Manitobans want the government to operate with genuine openness and transparency, putting the concerns of ordinary people ahead of partisan political interests
Stewardship & Reform
The party states that
– currently, Manitoba’s winner-take-all voting system allows political parties to govern with a majority without having won a majority of the votes. This is not fair to the majority of the voters and is not how representative government should work
– it believes that a proportional representationvoting system will give every vote more meaning and result in a more representative and accountable legislature
– it also seeks to strengthen democracy in Manitoba through increased accountability measures, greater citizen participation between elections,and greater fairness and stability regarding elections
The party advocates:
– introducing proportional representation and greater MLA prerogative by: (i) implementing a mixed-member proportional electoral system that is more representative and accountable to the people of Manitoba; (ii) allowing for more “free votes” in the Legislature so that MLAs can more directly represent the wishes and views of their constituents; and (iii) enacting measures to ensure that private members bills receive fullconsideration in the legislative process
– encourging greater consultation and accountability between elections, by (i) requiring the premier, within each twelve month period following the forming of government, to hold at least two town hall meetings; (ii) requiring each government department, within each twelve month period following the forming of the department, to hold at least one public forum to explain and answer questions regarding its major initiatives; and (iii) implementing significant new public programs or legislation/regulations only after first undertaking meaningful public consultation
– increasing youth participation in the democratic process by (i) encouraging the youth vote through creating more meaningful opportunities for youth to participate in the democratic process, through social media campaigns, and through making the opportunity to vote as accessible as possible to those who vote forthe first time; and (ii) lowering the voting age to 16
– respecting fixed terms and election dates, including respecting existing legislation that sets the term of the governing party at four years, with the date of the election occurring upon the completion of the four years, unless the government falls in a non-confidence vote
– to ensure greater respect by Members of the Legislative Assembly for the legislative process, (i) requiring its party members in the Legislature to model a more respectful presence during legislative processes; and (ii) proposing that the Legislature adopt tougher sanctions, to be administered by the Speaker, for disrespectful and unduly disruptive behaviour
– to encourage greater fiscal responsiblility and accountability in government, (i) requiring the public release of a full costing of all significant new government initiatives before they are implemented; (ii) undertaking significant new public expenditures or taxation measures only after first undertaking meaningful public consultation; and (iii) requiring that reasons for not implementing recommendations submitted by the Office of the Auditor General be made public on a timely basis
Intergovernmental Relations
The party states, as matters of principle, that:
– the people most affected by a situation must have the authority to solve it; distant administrations cannot respond adequately
– it supports a restructuring of social, political and economic institutionsto a democratic, less bureaucratic system where power is returned to local communities
– with respect to trade agreements and institutions, it would seek to implement a system of fair trade where regional production is consumed by the region first and the balance would be traded outsidethe region for goods and services that are not provided locally
Public Safety
The party states that:
– a sense of security is a fundamental need that must be met for individuals and communities to thrive
– to fully respect the right of all Manitobans to feel safe and secure in their communities, a holistic and preventative approach to public safety, that focuses on tackling the root causes of crime, must be taken
– building strong communities is the first and best line of defence in long-term crime prevention. Factors such as poverty, addiction, and social exclusion contribute to rising crime rates
– an effective public safety strategy must focus first on ensuring that people receive the support they need to prosper in their communities. This involves addressing the social and economic inequities in our province, such as reducing poverty rates by introducing a universal basic income, and increasing support for community-based social programming
– true justice occurs when the most effective measures are taken to ensure that punishments for crimes do not make offenders more likely to reoffend. This will be accomplished by developing a restorative justice program that focuses on the rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation with victims and the community
– it supports alternatives to the traditional court systems where appropriate, as well as alternatives to incarceration, such as restitution, community service and community-based sentencing (see the Report of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry of Manitoba), and post-release interventions that have proven success rates of improving the outcomes of individuals leaving incarceration and thus reducing recidivism rates
To ensure the safety of Manitobans, the party advocates:
– support measures that address demonstrated social and economic risk factors, including (i) implementation of poverty reduction measures such as providing a Basic Income to protect Manitobans from economic risk factors associated with crime; (ii) ensuring greater access to quality mental health and addictions services to reduce drug-related crime; (iii) promoting culturally appropriate Indigenous programming focused on building resilience and overcoming intergenerational trauma and the legacy of colonialism
– support for youth and family focused community programming, including (i) evidence-based crime prevention initiatives that focus on early childhood social development and building healthy relationships; (ii) you access to quality, structured recreation and arts programming; and (iii) support programming that focuses on promoting healthy family relationships and helping parents build skills and access resources
– greater support for initiatives generated at the community level, including: (i) community-based safety initiatives; and (ii) regular consultation with safe community organizations to ensure community-appropriate responses to crime intervention
– developing and funding a restorative justice program, including: (i) appointing a Manitoba restorative justice advisory council; (ii) a restorative justice program that focuses on therehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation with victims and the community at large; policies respecting the use of restorative justice programs; and (iii) funding restorative justice programs to a level that represents at least 5% of the total budget of the Department of Justice
– increased reliance on alternative courts, including increased investment in mental health courts, drug treatment courts, and FASD courts to more effectively support offenders and reduce involvement in the criminal justice system
– support for pre- and post release programs to reduce recidivism, including: (i) appropriate and culturally relevant services to inmates on issues such as substance abuse, family and domestic violence, and overcoming the experience of having been sexually abused; (ii) pre- and post-release interventions that focus on education, employment and reintegration into society

Role & Purpose of Government
The party’s constitution states that:
– the party is committed to the dignity of individuals as the cardinal principle of a democratic society, and as the primary purpose for all political organization and activity in such society. In accordance with this philosophy, the Manitoba Liberal Party subscribes to the fundamental rights and freedoms of all persons and commits itself to the protection of these fundamental values
– in order to promote the political, economic, cultural and general well-being of Manitobans, it recognizes that human dignity in a democratic system requires that all citizens have access to full information concerning the policies and leadership of the party; the opportunity to participate in open and public assessment of such policies and leadership; and the means to alter such policies and leadership, as they deem desirable
Stewardship & Reform
The party states that:
– some of the perks available to rural and northern MLAs in Manitoba are richer than what’s afforded or allowed to Members of Parliament in Ottawa
– the Federal Government bars MPs from claiming expenses on a second home
– Manitoba MLAs who live 50km outside of Winnipeg are eligible for tax-free allowances to cover their personal and living expenses when they have to travel to the legislature from their home community. Winnipeg MLAs are not eligible
– upholding the rule of law by strengthening conflict of interest rules for politicians, and push for an inquiry in to the bribery and contracts around the Winnipeg Police HQ
The party advocates:
– ending the practice of subsidizing second mortgages for rural and northern MLAs, in the form of Temporary Residence Expenses: up to a maximum of $1368 per month for costs related to rental accommodation or for costs related to a second-owned home. The monthly rental benefit is indexed, so it goes up automatically every year
Public Safety
The party states that:
– a recent Globe and Mail investigation found that transnational criminal organizations are laundering their funds from human trafficking through numbered companies across Canada, including Manitoba, whose laws on corporate disclosure allows criminals to hide
The party advocates:
– making the streets safer and cracking down on human trafficking by cutting off criminals’ source of funds, by implementing a transparent and searchable public registry of beneficial ownership of corporations

Purpose and Role of Government
In order to promote good jobs and sustainable growth while meeting social needs, the party advocates seeking better alignment of social enterprises and government procurement
Stewardship of Office
The party advocates:
– continuing to index Personal Income Tax brackets and Basic Personal Amount to inflation
– maintaining the timeline to balance the provincial budget established in the Manitoba Budget of 2019
– asking the top 1% of income earners – individuals earning over $250,000 – to contribute a bit more, and using those funds to in vest in public services for all Manitobans
– cancelling $23 million in unnnecessary provincial contracts, and using the savings to fund vital public services
Public Safety
The party advocates:
– making communities safer by introducing meaningful, effective, evidence-based measures to combat addictions, including a Safe Consumption Site, Managed Alcohol Program, and new facilities

The party states, as a matter of principle, that it is committed to:
– efficient and effective government with a credible fiscal plan to ensure the long-term success and viability of essential services
– economic growth and job creation through private enterprise,entrepreneurship and commercial competitiveness fostered by creation of an even playing field for all
– government that is respectful of and responsive to the will of thepeople it serves; committed to both the responsibilities and the spirit of democracy
Taxes, Stewardship & Reform
Taxes & Revenues
The party states that:
– it committed in 2019 to a gradual return to balance with nearly $7 billion in cumulative new investments over 4 years and lower taxes for Manitobans
– its plan anticipated naturally growing revenues and increasing investments in needed public services
– its plan prioritized investments in health, education and families
– in its 2023 budget, it has prioritized: (i) help for Manitobans; (ii) safer streets; (iii) health care; (iv) support for communities; and (v) future opportunities, including:
* $5500 in total savings for the average two-income family by 2024
* $311 million in tax relief through an increase to the Basic Personal Amount in 2023, saving the average two-income family more than $1,000 in 2023, compared to 2022
* $160-million to increase income tax bracket thresholds to $47,000 and $100,000 in 2024
* combined, the Basic Personal Amount and tax bracket enhancements will save the average two-income family more than $1,250 in 2024
* increasing the School Tax Rebate to 50 per cent on farm and residential properties, saving the average homeowner $774 in 2023
* $190-million to reduce payments charged to Manitoba Hydro, saving Manitoba Hydro and ratepayers more than $4-billion over 2023-2024
* increases to the minimum wage in April and October, bringing it to $15 per hour
* Family Affordability Package and the Carbon Tax Relief Fund payments provided the average family with $825 since fall 2022 to combat rising costs
Tax Reform
As part of a ‘Five-Point Guarantee’ during the prior election, the party promised:
– a $2,020 tax rollback, to lower taxes for working families
– a $2 billion health care funding guarantee
The party further advocates:
– to increase tax fairness for small businesses, reducing by 50% the tax interest surcharge from 6 to 3 percent for taxpayers for tax owing on provincially administered taxes
– reducing registration fees on passenger vehicles by reversing a 30% hike implemented in 2012
Democratic Reform
The party advocates:
– ending taxpayer subsidies to lazy political parties by eliminating Manitoba’s election campaign subsidy, while maintaining current supports for individual candidates
Social Services
To improve delivery of government-sponsored social services, the party advocates:
– supporting at least five more social impact bonds (SIB)
– refocusing the responsibilities of the Social Impact Office to centralize and modernize various strategies including SIBs, social finance, social enterprise, and social impact procurement
Veterans Services
To provide more support for veterans, the party advocates:
– directing Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries to adjust the revenue sharing agreement with veterans organizations from 20:80 to 25:75 until completion of the provincial Gaming Review
– introducing legislative amendments to harmonize municipal property tax exemptions across the province for Manitoba’s more than 70 local veterans’ chapters
– providing $500,000 more on an annual basis, through these changes, for services that support veterans
Inter-governmental Relations
The party states that:
– Manitoba municipalities are key partners in fueling the provincial economy
In order to further stimulate private sector capital investments across Manitoba, party advocates:
– acting on recommendations of the 2019 Review of Planning, Permitting and Zoning in Manitoba, thereby significantly bolstering provincial GDP, municipal tax base and job creation potential, especially in Winnipeg, every day unnecessary permitting delays are reduced
– partnering with the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region to create a capital region growth plan that will deliver better infrastructure at lower cost, more investment and improved development planning
– establishment of a collaborative process with the Association of Manitoba Municipalities to strengthen provincial-municipal growth and partnership opportunities, with a balanced discussion of both revenues and expenditures
– establishment of a Municipal Audit and Accountability Program to provide third party value-for-money audits for willing municipalities wanting to improve services without raising taxes
– investing $5 million to help municipalities identify ineffective spending and innovative solutions, based on a return on investment analysis
To support municipalities, the party’s 2023 budget 2023 includes investments of:
– $217-million in total municipal operating funding – $47-million more than last year and the largest increase in a decade
– $268.5-million in capital expenditures to build, renovate and expand more schools
– $100-million in new funding for school divisions
– more than $81-million to Community Living and Children’s disABILITY Services agencies for a funded average wage of $19/hour, bringing the total budget for disability services to an historic $640-million this year
– $76.1-million to reduce regulated parent fees for child care to $10 per day
– $8.7-million to support recycling, composting and waste diversion initiatives
– $50-million for the Arts, Culture and Sport in Community Fund
– $10-million to support a new Parks Capital Plan
Extra-Provincial Trade
In order to reduce barriers to internal trade, the party advocates:
– expanding existing markets and pursuing new export opportunities with a new targeted trade strategy; enhancing trade, investment and labour mobility; removing trade barriers to the movement of goods, services investment and people within and between provinces
– working collaboratively with community partners and consulting with industry partners
– to open the provinical cannabis market, implementing a phased approach to retail that leverages the best of the public and private sectors and offers unique opportunities for participation by indigenous businesses, opening 46 stores with an immediate goal of providing 90% of Manitobans with access to cannabis retail within a 30-minute drive, and moving toward an open retail market in 2020
– guarding against the risks that cannabis legalization poses, especially to our youth
– collecting a social responsibility levy on all retail sales to keep Manitobans safe through public education and other efforts
– liberalizing beer, wine and liquor distribution and sales, bringing more selection and lower prices to Manitobans, including (i) exemption of craft distillers, cideries and brewers from markup for on-premise brew pub, distillery and cidery sales; (ii) continuing to promote the reduction of interprovincial barriers to liquor sales; and (iii) working with the local craft beer industry and distillers to further reduce red tape and barriers to growth
Public Safety
To address escalating addiction and crime rates in Winnipeg and across the province, the pary advocates:
– modern education for children, including (i) development of a modern anti-addictions curriculum, emphasizing the role of peer pressure, social media and cultural influences, with evidence-based lessons; and (ii) engaging students with these modernized, age-appropriate learning outcomes related to substance abuse and prevention, starting in Grade 3
– providing more treatment services, faster, based on a comprehensive overhaul of mental and health addictions within the province; and (i) adding 12 new treatment and waiting spaces for those suffering from meth psychosis and other mental health and addictions issues at the Health Sciences Centre’s emergency room; (ii) creating a new sobering centre; and (iii) adding supportive housing, a new RAAM clinic and a new recovery and drop-in centre
– dedicating $10 million to help police fight gangs and criminals across Manitoba
– directing the Manitoba Police Commission to offer advice on the best ways to improve safety in downtown Winnipeg, including the use of foot patrols, surveillance cameras, improved lighting, emergency communications equipment and better coordination with the private sector
– launching a Crime Stoppers ad blitz in Winnipeg, Brandon and rural Manitoba including more cash for drug tips
– responding to drug intelligence with greater support for tactical enforcement by the Winnipeg Police Service
– putting drug dealers on the run by providing more resources for the Public Safety Investigations Unit
– cracking down on crime by improving the sharing of criminal intelligence between RCMP and municipal police forces and supporting joint forces operations
– making it easier to turn seized drug money and assets into resources for police by expanding civil forfeiture
– supporting community-based crime prevention programs that mobilize government and community resources to help at-risk Manitobans
The party’s 2023 budget includes investments of more than $100-million to address challenges of violent crime and homelessness across Manitoba, including:
• $51.8-million for Manitoba’s Violent Crime Strategy over two years, with $34.6-million allocated in 2023
• more than $51-million for Manitoba’s Homelessness Strategy
• $3.6-million for the Downtown Community Safety Partnership to build a safer, more inviting downtown Winnipeg for businesses and residents
• $100,000 to support ongoing operations of the Winnipeg Bear Clan Patrol Inc.
• $9.4-million for 1,000 new treatment spaces for providers of substance use and addictions treatment services across Manitoba
• $1-million to support expansion of crisis stabilization unit beds and tele-psychiatry services to expand access to Manitobans living in rural and remote communities
• $1.5-million in child and youth mental health services to improve access and reduce wait times
• investing $600,000 for flexible-length community residential withdrawal management beds in Brandon

The Role and Purpose of Government
The Church has definite ideas about the purpose of life and the proper roles of civil society, government, and other social institutions in fostering and supporting such lives.
– are those ideas shared by most Manitobans, or would they agree if helped to understand our positions?
– are any values held in common by most Manitobans? If so, what are they, and how do they inform the proper role of government and other social institutions? For example, what do we owe each other, and what does the answer mean for government, charities, schools, etc.?
– is it possible to meaningfully or responsibly define a role for government – and therefore a party’s platform – without reference to the purpose of life or other social institutions? Should Catholics look to political parties to share their views on the purpose of life and the proper role of government as a part of their platforms?
Respect & Good Governance
– it is a common practice among many of our political parties, in framing their platforms and policy statements, to focus at least as much on what’s wrong with the other parties as they do on what’s right about themselves. How can we, as citizens and voters, help encourage parties to look for common ground, speak positively about and respectfully to one another, and voice their suggestions for improvement in respectful and collaborative terms?
– we have found, in our conversations with candidates and even the most partisan party adherents, that the greatest number of people agree on far more points of right, wrong, good, and bad than they disagree on. Is it possible for us to start conversations by assessing our points of agreement, and the things we have already achieved, before leaping to differences and deficiencies that might tend to distance us from one another?
– the Church is clear on the conviction that elected leaders should seek to serve the common good, bringing with them to their work deep feelings of humility and deep commitments to wisdom. How can we, as citizens and voters, encourage wisdom, humility and respect in those we elect, rather than selfishness and exclusion?
Democratic Reform & Stewardship
– it is very often the case that party members and candidates – including particularly rank-and-file members and staff members – are very good people, who sacrifice much in order to contribute to a better world. And it seems too seldom that we thank them, or have anything other than criticism to offer. What can we, as individuals, do to thank and support these selfless people?
In its most recent Annual Report for Public Accounts – for the year ended March 31, 2022 – the provincial government reported that “the Province’s summary financial position as at March 31, 2022 is a net loss of $704 million, an improvement of $1,420 million over the previous year’s deficit of $2,124 million and an improvement of $893 million over the 2021/22 projected Budget deficit of $1,597 m illion…. the notable recovery from Budget is due to a substantially stronger than expected improvement in a number of economic sectors in Manitoba, following the COVID-19 pandemic.” (https://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/proactive/20222023/public-accounts-2022.pdf)
– is that statement consistent with the promises and undertakings made by the governing party in its current campaign materials?
– does it suggest a sense of fiscal responsibility on the part of the governing party?
The same report provides the chart shown below of sources and relative magnitude of revenues received from various sources, and total expenditure made by the province in the same year. Does this chart reflect good governance, with suitable priorities and attention to fiscal responsibility?
Manitoba Finance: Annual Report and Public Accounts, 2021-2022